The latest concussion Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered Thursday night in their loss to the Buffalo Bills is the talk of the sports world.
In particular, it’s the talk of the sports media world. Several media personalities have called on Tua to retire after he suffered his third concussion in less than a two-year span.
The scene inside South Beach’s Hard Rock Stadium was absolutely scary. Tagovailoa was seen in a fencing position, a clear indication that he suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Check it out.
Those around the NFL have offered up their opinions regarding whether Tagovailoa should simply call it quits. That includes Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
The debate now includes ESPN’s co-workers Stephen A. Smith and Elle Duncan. Their back-and-forth was not necessarily a great look.
ESPN Show Devolves Into Gender Role Debate Amid Tua Tagovailoa Conversation
Friday’s episode of “First Take” included Smith and Duncan getting into it regarding whether Tua should retire. It quickly devolved into an argument, with Smith bringing up perceived gender norms.
“Molly and Elle, I can say this: As men, our mentality a lot of the time is different. You’re willing to put it all on the line to secure the well-being of your family in perpetuity, even in the event you’re not around,” Smith said.
“There are sacrifices that I make as a father all the time. I’m not around my daughters as much as I would like to be. I’m not with my family as much as I would like to be. Sometimes they resent it and what have you. I don’t care. And you know why I don’t care? Because I grew up starving.”
So, he’s saying that men sacrifice more than women to make it big in their careers and provide for their family.
Duncan was not having any of it.
“As someone who is a woman who has two scars that go from hip to hip because I’ve had two C-sections in an effort to provide for my family and create a family for my family, I understand sacrifice,” Duncan responded.
“A Black woman in this country, whose mortality rates are incredibly high, I understand making sacrifices and trying to mitigate risk when it comes to your family, expanding your family and protecting your family.”
We’re not too sure how a conversation into Tua’s career and potential retirement turned into this. But it’s the latest example of gender norm narratives being thrown around in today’s society.
In reality, there are as many women in the workforce as men. There are a ton of single mothers doing what they can to put food on the table and care for their family. This is not the 1950s despite the mentality some around the country have.
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